This is another crazy move by the Cubs. Wood is out, Dempster's hurt, Fox is out, Borowski is out, Hawkins is useless, and we have no idea who the 5th starter is -- so let's pick now to cut our pitching staff from 12 to 11. And that 11 is really 10, given that Clint Bartosh has a total of 8 appearances so far (despite putting up the best ERA of anyone who's been in the pen all year).

The stated reason for needing Fontenot was that Ramirez's back and Macias' knee left Dusty a bat short. You're a bat short with Macias to begin with, so I don't see the reasoning.

I didn't get it either, UCCF; it's not like Fontenot was used when he was here before. (He was hitting decently at Iowa, however.)

Still, considering that neither Mitre nor Bartosh have been used either, I don't see this as a big deal -- at least while the Cubs can get away with a four-man rotation.

That's about 10 more days (looks like the Wednesday game vs Houston on the 25th would be the first one where a 5th starter would be necessary). But Wood won't be back by that time, so they'll either have to recall someone or give the ball to a guy like Wellemeyer.

*Unless* they think Borowski will be back and closing by then, in which case they can put Dempster back in the rotation. I guess we'll see what happens.

Fontenot can't replace Neifi Dan, he doesn't play SS. A lot of the ######## about Neifi on this site is unfounded, because Ronny Cedeno really is the only other guy capable of not embarrassing himself at SS on the 40 man roster.

he doesn't play SS

True - that was a little bit knee-jerk of me.

Not that Neifi is much of a SS defensively, of course.